WASHINGTON It's not just Todd Akin. The fallout from the Missouri Senate candidate's "legitimate rape" comment was the latest signal that the Republican path to the majority in the Senate may have just gotten tougher.

WASHINGTON Turned away at the Supreme Court, congressional Republicans sketched a strategy Friday to repeal the nation's health-care law in 2013 that requires a sweeping election victory carrying Mitt Romney to the presidency and the party at least to narrow control of the Senate.

RICHMOND, Va. Former Sen. George Allen easily defeated three lesser-known conservative Republican challengers Tuesday in Virginia's primaries, earning a shot at regaining the seat he lost six years ago in a race both parties consider critical to controlling the U.S. Senate.